-It feels nice to be cared for

Ian when he heard that, his mind sort of short-circuited, due to the shock he had.

Though he liked robin, he still had to get over his lover before anything might happen between them...

The others only had smiles present, and only Garp kept on fixing the wooden board he was working on since they sat down to listen to who Luffy's father was.

As of this moment Ian was changing the future events completely. And he knew that he was doing so. Robin not joining Luffy will affect how Luffy's journey from now on would go. As she was important for the crew to be able to read the Poneglyphs and know where Raftel is.

'This, I was actually believing she would join Luffy… but I guess anything could happens in the real world.' Ian thought inside his mind.

Ian already knew that this world was trying to get Luffy to become the pirate king. It was like fate was guiding him ever since he was young. As such for Robin, who had an essential role in helping him along his journey, to not be able to go with him, this will be like changing the future. Changing her fate.

Ian finally recovered after a while and smiled a sincere smile. He was genuinely happy.

"Eh, seriously? That's good news. Finally, I have someone to journey with." He said, and all there were able to feel the genuine emotions contained in his voice.

They all except Garp had the same thought in their minds. Such a strong person was looking for a friend to join him on his journey? Strong people had weird minds and even stranger thoughts…

Only Garp gave an understanding nod towards Ian. Such a strong young man, he should have been training his whole life alone… it is understandable for one like that to feel lonely and desire a companion. At a time I too was just like him…

'Good for you young man…' Garp thought.

If only Garp could know how accurate he was… Ian had been desiring for a friend ever since he started on his journey. He had been visiting strange and mysterious places all on his own which limited the enjoyment. And while to many it would sound stupid, every person has a longing for companionship. Not to say Ian who had been only training since he was a boy. And there was also the fact that Ian wanted a family as a result of being an orphan, and even his lover had died...

Robin smiled at him. Of them, she was the one who would understand him best. As she was even older than him, and had been alone since she was 8 years old. She had been backstabbed by people she thought were her friends, she had been betrayed, never did she find a true friend, so much that she started to doubt their existence. It was only now that she had found them.

She turned and looked at Luffy and the others. Then she looked at Ian. The foolish guy who had come from who knows where for the sole purpose to save her. She smiled gently at that thought. He had even been waiting for her to join the straw hats, as such he would practically be saving her for nothing.

'It feels nice to be cared for' Robin thought inside her mind.

Suddenly Ian adopted a conflicted look on his face. If she was going to join him, then they had to leave now. And she barely had spent some time with the straw hats who had come to save her. And now he didn't know what to say to her.

Robin noticed and asked out of concern.

"What's wrong?" Robin said.

Ian finally gave a sigh and said.

"Well it does not sound right for us to leave water 7 now, as it wouldn't be fair to the straw hats who had just started resting after coming to save you." He said.

And she gave a nod as she understood that.

"Do we absolutely have to leave now? Do you have something important to do?" she asked.

Ian nodded.

"I need to meet someone to talk about something important." He replied, but did not mention the feeling about entering the new world he has.

The straw hats, all expressed their opinions by saying that they didn't mind at all. And finally Robin said that it was fine too. It was only then that Ian relaxed.

"Meet someone? Who is it?" she asked with interest.

Ian hesitated for a bit, considering who is around him right now, before finally sighing and speaking.

"I need to talk about something with the strongest man alive, 'Whitebeard'" he said. Then all the others had their eyes widening. After all everybody knew about the old man, his reputation was as vast as the sea.

Even Garp raised a brow at the mention of the name.

"You want to meet an Emperor of the sea?" he asked.

"That's right. I need to speak about something important with him. If possible I would like it if you do not inform the marines' headquarters about this." Ian said. He wanted to know more about Garp's character. Even if he knew a few things from the anime. And at any case this information is not important for him to disclose. But the topic of the discussion between him and whitebeard is…

Garp gave a snort but kept quiet. He would try to keep it hidden, but the marines had their source of information, they were likely to know on their own. Even Ian knew this before. However knowing about it only when he visits whitebeard, and knowing it now when he still has not even left the island and entered the new world are vastly different.

Still Garp was a bit interested about what Ian wanted to say to that old man.

As such he asked.

Ian took a few seconds, and looked at Garp.

'That's right, this guy, fought against Roger repeatedly… perhaps he too would know something… however, the entity said to talk to whitebeard. Talking about this with anyone else is just plain stupid. Even with Rayleigh I only planned to ask about information indirectly.' Ian thought inside his mind.

He finally thought things through.

"I'm sorry but I cannot disclose this without Whitebeard knowing who am i talking to." He gave an apologetic smile to Garp who only snorted and focused back on fixing the wall again.

Ian then once again said his farewells to the straw hats, and watched as Robin did too before she went to get her things ready.